Mo Yan’s new interview, opera translation, and odd book titles

March 8, 2013

This was a busy week full of new and exciting announcements from the literary world. Below, discover how Mo Yan responds to his greatest critics in an exclusive new interview. Also be sure to check out the events and deadlines in the For Your Calendar section!

News, Reviews, and Interviews

The National Book Critics Circle awards for 2013 were announced last week.

In his first interview since the Nobel Announcement, Mo Yan addresses his critics head on.

Do you stress over the books you just couldn't finish because they were so difficult? That may be deliberate.

Mark Linz, director of the American University in Cairo Press, died of cancer in February. Publishing Perspectives remembers him fondly on their website. 

How difficult is it to translate an opera? The New York Times wonders.

The 2013 Best Translated Book Award Fiction longlist was announced this week, with 25 exceptional titles.

Is the current ISBN system outdated? Publishing Perspectives wants your opinion!

Emmanuel Iduma for The Mantle explains the process of writing an elemental novel.

For Your Calendar

The Korean Association of Translation Studies is calling for papers for their international conference, taking place this November.

Booktalk Nation hosts several author discussions every month, and they recently released their March schedule of events.

Join authors Perihan Magden (Turkey) and Neel Mukherjee (India/UK) this April at the Free Word Centre to discuss giving voices to marginalized populations in their writing.

Fun Finds and Inspiration

Throughout the month of March, Better World Books will be donating a book to a child in need for every new Twitter follower or Facebook like they receieve.

The Days of Yore is a new website that features information on authors before they attained fame and fortune.

Cast your vote for the oddest book title of the year at Publishing Perspectives! 

E. E. Cummings’s poetry is often very popular, but did you know these 17 songs were based off of his verses?

When the reader’s away, the books will play!